Feds shut Calif. chicken plant infested with cockroaches

Federal inspectors Wednesday suspended processing at a Foster Farms poultry plant in California that is infested with cockroaches.

The plant is one of three in central California being investigated for an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant salmonella that has sickened more than 400 people nationwide.

In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture refused to close the plant, saying Foster Farmshad "submitted and implemented immediate substantive changes to their slaughter and processing to allow for continued operations."

Citing "egregious insanitary conditions," the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service suspended processing at the plant in Livingston, near Fresno, one of the company's biggest facilities,The Oregoniannewspaperreported.

Cockroaches carry viruses and bacteria, including salmonella.

USDA inspectors have cited the Livingston plant for roaches several times since September, the suspension notice said.

A Foster Farms spokespersontoldtheFresno Beethat the suspension would be "temporary" and that two other plants were not affected.